Switch-structure.



H. S. EVANS. SWITCH STRUCTURE.

' APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 31, 1910.

Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

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HOWARD S. EVANS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORTO BUDA COMPANY, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION.

SWITCH STRUCTURE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HOWARD S. Evans, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook,and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Switch Structures, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The invention relates to switch structures and seeks to provide a simpleand effective hold-down device for the heel of the switch tongue which,while applicable to different forms of switch tongue, is moreparticularly adapted to switch structures in which the heel of thetongue is enlarged and pivotally mounted in the recess in the body partof the switch structure, thereby obviating the necessity of a pivot pinor pintle for the tongue.

The invention also seeks to otherwise improve the switch structure, ashereinafter set forth, and consists in the features of improvementherein described, illustrated in the preferred form in the accompanyingdrawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved switchstructure. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1 through the center of motion of the tongue. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 aretransverse sections on the lines 3-3, 4-4 and 55, respectively, of Fig.1.

The switch structure, in the preferred form of the invention, comprisesa casting 10 extending from end to end thereof and to which the rails ofthe main and branch track are connected. Preferably, sections 11 and 12of the main track rail and a section 13 of the branch track rail areconnected to the metal body 10 of the switch structure in the castingoperation, the rail sections 12 and 13 being embedded in the heel end ofthe body part and the rail section 11 in its opposite end. To secure afirm union between the body of the switch structure and the railsections, the latter are preferably provided with perforations 1 1 (seeFigs. 3 and 5) through which the metal of the body part flows in thecasting operation. The union between the rail sections and the cast bodyof the switch structure is strengthened by means of two rods 15 of toughmetal embedded in themetal body 10 in the casting operation,'andextending from end to end Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 31, 1910.

Patented Apr. 22, 1913. Serial No. 579,906.

thereof. One of these rods extends in line with the track sections 11and 12 and the other in line with the track sections 11 and 13.

The cast metal portion 10 of the switch structure is cut away to receivean insert block 16 of manganese steel. This block preferably extendsfrom end to end of the switch structure and abuts against the beveledends of the rail sections 11, 12 and 13, as shown. The block 16 is heldin position by a series of bolts17 which extend downwardly throughopenings therein and in the cast portion 10 and the lower ends of thebolts engage nuts 18. These nuts are inserted into the pockets 19 formedin the cast portion 10 and opening through the side walls thereof. Thewalls of the pockets engage the nuts and prevent them from turning. Theheads of the bolts set within recesses formed in the block 16 and afterthe bolts are placed in position, zinc is run into these recesses aboutthe heads of the bolts. Preferably, also, a layer 20 of zinc is cast inplace between the body of the block 16 and the cast metal portion 10. Topreserve a space for the zinc layer, the cast portion 10 is providedwith a series of projecting lugs 21 cast thereon and arranged to engagethe block 16. In assembling the parts, the block 16 and cast metalportion 10 are first secured together by bolts 17, the lugs 21 holdingthese parts separated to form a space into which the molten zinc is runto form the layer 20.

The block 16 of manganese steel is recessed to form a seat for theswitch tongue 22. In the preferred form of the invention, the tongue isprovided with an enlarged offset, circular heel 23 which is arrangedwithin a correspondingly shaped recess in the hardened steel block 16and forming therewith a pivot bearing for the tongue. This enlargedbearing serves to hold the tongue against both lateral and longitudinalmovement and also reduces the wear at the heel. The enlarged heel 23 andthe heel end of the block 16 are provided with grooves in line with thegrooves of the rail sections 12 and 13.

At its heel and in line with the axis of its bearing, the tongue isprovided with a depending lug 24 which extends downwardly through anopening 25 in the floor of the block 16 and into a recess 26 in the castportion 10. The lug 2 1 and opening 25 are preferably elongated in thedirection of the tongue and, in the form shown, are rectangular inoutline as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The lug is recessed orprovided with a transverse slot 27 and is to be engaged by a springactuated hold-down device that automatically takes up the wear upon thehearing at the tongue heel. In the preferred form of this invention,this holddown device comprises a spring pressed wedge 28. This wedge isperferably formed of hardened steel, is arranged transversely within therecess 26 of the cast metal portion and extends within the transverseslot 27 of the lug 24:. The upper edge of the wedge is beveled and bearsupon a correspondingly inclined seat at the upper por tion of the switchstructure. Preferably, the block 16 of hardened steel is provided with adepending lug 29 which extends within the upper portion of the recess 26and is provided with a finished beveled seat for the upper inclined edgeof the wedge 28.

The wedge 28 is forced to position by a heavy spring 30 arranged withinthe chambered casting 31 that is bolted to the side of the cast metalportion 10 of the switch structure. The spring is preferably arrangedwith its outer end engaging a lug 32 on the inner face of the outer wallof the casting 31 and with its inner end engaging a bolt 33 which isthreaded into a longitudinally extending socket 34 in the outer portionof the wedge 28. The bolt is provided near its outer end with anenlarged hexagonal flange 35 by which it may be turned to adjust thepressure exerted by the spring 30 and with a projecting stud 36 whichextends Within the inner end of the spring. The inner end of the springpreferably bears upon a washer 37 mounted on the stud 36 and bearingagainst the hexagonal flange 35.

In order that the pressure exerted by the wedge 28 shall be applied at apoint in line with the center of motion of the tongue, the transverseslot or recess 27 in the lug 24 is provided with a rounded orcylindrical lower wall 38. The spring actuated wedge or hold-down device28 securely holds the heel of the tongue down to the seat and alsoserves to automatically take up wear upon the seat. The pressure exertedby the spring 30 can be adjusted as desired by turning the bolt 33. Thecasting 31, within which the spring and bolt are ar ranged at one sideof the switch structure, is preferably provided with a suitable cover39.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the details set forth withoutdeparture from the essentials of the invention, as defined in theclaims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a switch structure, the combination of a body part having acircular recess provided with a horizontal floor, a switch tongue havinga correspondingly shaped heel journaled in said recess and bearing uponthe horizontal floor thereof, said tongue heel having a reduced lugextending downwardly through an openmg in the bearing floor of saidrecess, a wedge extending beneath the floor of said recess andinterposed between said floor and a shoulder on said lug and arranged toact in vertical direction upon said lug, a spring for forcing the saidwedge endwise to hold down the tongue heel and to automatically take upwear between the tongue heel and the horizontal bearing floor of saidrecess, and means for adjusting the tension of said spring,substantially as described.

2. In a switch structure, the combination of a body part having acircular recess rovided with a horizontal floor, a switch tongue havinga correspondingly shaped heel journaled in said recess and bearing uponthe horizontal floor thereof, said tongue heel having a reduced lugextending downwardly through an openlng in the bearing floor of saidrecess and in line with the center of motion of the tongue, a springactuated hold-down device arranged beneath the bearing floor of saidrecess and engaging and operating in vertical direction upon said lug toautomatically take up wear between the tongue heel and the bearing floorof said recess, and means accessible at the side of the switch structurefor adjusting the vertical pressure exerted by said hold-down deviceupon said lug, substantially as described.

3. In a switch structure, the combination with the body part, of aswitch tongue having an enlarged circular heel, said body part having acorrespondingly shaped recess or bearing wherein said heel is journaledand said tongue having a lug extending downwardly through an opening inthe floor of said recess, a wedge extending transversely below the floorof said recess and through an opening in said lug, said wedge having aninclined upper edge engaging a correspondingly shaped seat on said bodypart, a spring engaging said wedge for forcing the same endwise, andmeans for adjusting the tension of said spring, substantially asdescribed.

i. In a switch structure, the combination with the body part, of aswitch tongue having an enlarged circular heel journaled in acorrespondingly shaped recess or bearing in said body part, said tonguehaving a lug extending downwardly through an opening in the floor ofsaid recess in line with the center of movement of the tongue, a springactuated device engaging said lug to hold down the tongue heel andautomatically take up the wear between the same and its bearing, andmeans for adjusting the pressure exerted by said hold-down device,substantially as described.

5. In a switch structure, the combination of a body part having acircular recess provided with a horizontal floor, a switch tongue havinga correspondingly shaped heel journaled in said recess and bearing uponthe horizontal fioor thereof, said tongue heel having a reduced lugextending downwardly through an opening in the bearing floor of saidrecess and in line with the center of mot-ion of said tongue, said lughaving an opening provided with a rounded lower wall, a Wedge extendingbeneath said floor and through said recess and having an inclined upperedge engaging a correspondingly shaped seat on the lower side of saidfloor, and said Wedge having its lower edge bearing upon the roundedlower Wall of the opening in said lug, and means for forcing said Wedgeto position, substantially as described.

HOWVARD S. EVANS. lVitnesses:

ELEANOR HAeENoW, HARRY L. CLAPP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

